What?!! I know what you are thinking. "WHAT?!!" Well, hold on -- it was all quite harmless. Except I forgot to mention to the Boss the third stop until we were on the way..... If you don't know, we are on the Big Island for an extended stay restoring a small plantation house. Definitely small. Small as in just-over-700-square-feet-small. Small as in you-can-hear-the-person-breathe-in-the-next-room-small. Small. And we are together pretty much 24/7. If we are together so much why would we need a date night, you say? Well, at almost 40 years of marriage 24/7 togetherness is not that romantic. It can even be challenging when there are differing views on how to tackle a project. Code for disagreeing vehemently. Thus it is important to change it up and spend time together enjoying each others company, humor, interests -- activities which improve communication. Anticipating a weekly adventure day or date night reminds us we really do like one another! Time with your sweetheart is important no matter how long you've been together -- plan a date or an adventure! Date Night So, about this particular date...... we are almost equidistant from the two towns with movie theaters but only one shows current films. Both towns have great restaurants, so whether we travel to Hilo or Waimea depends on if we want to see a new release or are interested in the art film of the moment. It was my turn to plan a date and I really wanted to see Downton Abbey, but would settle for Good Boys. And we had not been to our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in a month. Hilo it was! Part of the reason for choosing Hilo was also based on my research on where to buy some cream with CBD added. Surprisingly, there are a number of small eco-friendly concerns in Hawaii who produce creams or lotions with added CBD, but only one shop on the Big Island sells any of these products. And, since the trip is good half hour from our home, it just made sense to include the errand with date night. Now, please remember we can all be a little oblivious at times, especially when the topic is something outside our direct experience. This was my first purchase of anything CBD related, and let's just say I was not thinking about what kind of vendor sells CBD lotion, but about dinner and a movie with my sweetheart. And it turns out the shop is on the same street as a great, upscale consignment shop for children's clothes, toys, strollers, etc. If the shop had been in one of the more laid back, hippy-esque towns on the island, it might have registered that we were going to experience something dissimilar to Walgreen's or Long's Pharmacy -- or even one of Oregon's dispensaries which I have not visited -- in just about every way. Dinner was delicious! My favorite dish is the Bo Kho - a braised beef stew with these fresh little bread loaves -- and the owner of the New Saigon is delightful every time we visit. His brother owns a similarly named Vietnamese restaurant in Vancouver -- if you live in the Portland area and want some Vietnamese food it's worth the trip. Following dinner we made it to the Regal Cinema in plenty of time to see Good Boys -- a comedy. Someday I'll get to see Downton Abbey -- sigh. We had a good laugh even before we made into to the movie theater. The Boss regularly asks if we qualify for any discount -- sometimes we do and sometimes not. This time the ticket seller gave us one senior discount and one full price ticket -- poor young man couldn't decide if we were old people, but did not want to ask a seemingly rude question. That's Love The evening's errand was on our way home and when we parked, the Boss was a little disconcerted. The district was upscale with some trendy restaurants and boutique stores and don't forget the aforementioned children's consignment shop! It was a short errand, but terribly informative! If you don't know the difference -- I didn't -- head shops supply the tools needed to consume while dispensaries supply the psychotropic consumables. The men behind the counter were most helpful; I told them what I needed and why, and out came the lotions. As I'm checking out the creams, the Boss is checking out the paraphernalia and the general shop ambiance -- on our way back to the car he gives me a hug and says, "You always take me to the best spots." That's love. I hope you are or will be blessed with a special someone who will love you no matter where you plan your next date! With much love & prayer,
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Nonna's Thoughts are for busy parents who are looking for practical knowledge, and a bit of laughter, in growing strong, joyful families.
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